The city saw a significant rise in bike use thanks to data-driven policy changes.
Bicycle traffic in Paris rose by 240% between 2018 and 2023, according to a new study, showing that the city's investments in new bike infrastructure have paid off.
As Ron Johnson explains in Momentum, "The research suggests the biggest gains come when cities make cycling both easier while making driving less convenient." The rise in bicycling was "the result of deliberate, data-driven policy" that included new bike lanes and bike parking, traffic calming initiatives and low-emission zones.
According to the researchers, "the most important driver wasn’t a single intervention, but rather the cumulative effect of consistent, coordinated policies." The city didn't just add bike lanes. It also discouraged car use and made streets safer and more welcoming for pedestrians. Under Mayor Anne Hidalgo's "Plan Vélo," Paris has built over 1,000 kilometers of new bike lanes and eliminated thousands of parking spaces.
For Johnson, "The lesson is clear: change is possible when policy, infrastructure, and public space all point in the same direction."
Read the full story: Paris Grew Cycling by 240% in Just Five Years: North American Cities Should Pay Attention
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